COMMANDOS RECEIVE TOP COMCHEST AWARD

"To make the world a better place, it isn't really hard," recited 10-year-old Gan Sun Ling from the Sharity poem at the 2011 Community Chest (ComChest) Awards held at the Istana on 13 Oct.

When she first enrolled into the Spastic Children's Association School, the self-confessed tomboy, who was born with cerebral palsy, could not walk. However, after three years of physiotherapy, she is now able to do so with a cane walker.

Donations, contributed by personnel from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as well as other organisations and individuals, have enabled more than 60 charities to run 150 social services programmes for children with developmental challenges like Sun Ling, who is one of the 320,000 beneficiaries of the $55.2 million raised by ComChest in 2010.

Headquarters Commando is one formation that has supported ComChest through the SHARE programme - a monthly workplace giving scheme - for the last 21 years.

At the awards ceremony, President Tony Tan Keng Yam, who is also the Patron-in-Chief National Council of Social Service, presented the Pinnacle Award to HQ Commando in recognition of their long-term and significant contributions to ComChest. It was the first time a MINDEF/SAF unit received the award.

The Singapore Police Force "G" Division also received the award.

On receiving the highest accolade for ComChest donors, Colonel (COL) Chiang Hock Woon, Chief Commando Officer, said: "The SAF Commandos are united in our mission to keep our homeland safe and secure and will continue to do our part, even in small ways, to help the less fortunate in Singapore."

It was also the first time a MINDEF/SAF unit received the Platinum award in the Special Events category, given to organisations that have raised $300,000 or more for ComChest through fundraising events.

Nexus, the coordinating agency for National Education and one of the 12 organisations that received the award, had partnered Aurigin Technology, the Lee Foundation, NTUC FairPrice Foundation, SembCorp Industries, Singapore Turf Club and the Tote Board to raise $300,000 through its Click for Charity fund-raising initiative as part of this year's Total Defence campaign.

The initial target of $200,000 was adjusted upwards when the target was met midway through the campaign.

COL Kelvin Koh, Director Nexus, said: "Monetary target aside, what was evident was that everyone can contribute to Total Defence in one way or another."

Of the 357 ComChest awards given out this year, 133 were presented to SAF units and MINDEF departments.